William Collier Sr.

William Collier Sr. (November 12, 1864 – January 13, 1944), born William Morenus, was an American writer, director and actor.
Collier ran away from home when only 11 years old to join a touring company run by Eddie Foy and in 1879 he appeared as a juvenile in H.M.S. Pinafore. After a notable stage career, he tried motion pictures, under producer Mack Sennett. He then went back to the stage for some years but returned to films when the talkies came along.
In 1910 he appeared at the Elitch Theatre in Denver, Colorado, while his adopted son, stage named William Collier Jr., was recovering from scarlet fever that was followed by typhoid. His son recovered and was able to join his father in a production of The Patriot.
He "once opened The Patriot, one of his own plays, on December 30. On January 2 he advertised with some degree of truthfulness: 'Second Year in New York.'"
He was married to the actress Louise Allen; she died in 1909 and he married Paula Marr the following year, adopting her son Charles, whom he renamed William Collier Jr.
Collier died of pneumonia in 1944. He was interred at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
Partial filmography
Never Again (1916, Short)
Better Late Than Never (1916, Short) - The Art Student
The No-Good Guy (1916) - Jimmy Coghlan
The Servant Question (1920) - Mr. Butler
Happy Days (1929) - End Man - Minstrel Show
Harmony at Home (1930) - Joe Haller
Free and Easy (1930) - Himself - Master of Ceremonies at Premiere
High Society Blues (1930) - Horace Divine
She's My Weakness (1930) - David Tuttle
Up the River (1930) - Pop
Seas Beneath (1931) - Mugs O'Flaherty (uncredited)
Mr. Lemon of Orange (1931) - Mr. Blake
6 Cylinder Love (1931) - Richard Burton
Annabelle's Affairs (1931) - Wickham
The Brat (1931) - Judge Emmett A. O'Flaherty
Stepping Sisters (1932) - Herbert Ramsey
After Tomorrow (1932) - Willie Taylor
The Washington Masquerade (1932) - Babcock
Hot Saturday (1932) - Mr. Brock
Madison Square Garden (1932) - Doc Williams
All of Me (1934) - Jerry Helman
The Crosby Case (1934) - The Detective-Police Sgt. Melody
Cheaters (1934) - K.C. Kelly
A Successful Failure (1934) - Ellery Cushing aka Uncle Dudley
The Murder Man (1935) - 'Pop' Grey
Annapolis Farewell (1935) - Rumboat Charlie
The Bride Comes Home (1935) - Alfred Desmereau
Love on a Bet (1936) - Uncle Carlton MacCreigh
Give Us This Night (1936) - Priest
Cain and Mabel (1936) - Pop Walters
Valiant Is the Word for Carrie (1936) - Ed Moresby
Josette (1938) - David Brassard Sr.
Thanks for the Memory (1938) - Mr. Platt
Say It in French (1938) - Howland
Persons in Hiding (1939) - Burt Nast
I'm from Missouri (1939) - Smith
Invitation to Happiness (1939) - Mr. Wayne
Television Spy (1939) - James Llewellyn
Disputed Passage (1939) - Dr. William Cunningham
Miracle on Main Street (1939) - Dr. Miles
The Hard-Boiled Canary (1941) - Dr. Joseph E. Maddy (final film role)
References
External links
1864 births
1944 deaths
American film directors
American male screenwriters
American male film actors
20th-century American male actors
Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)
Deaths from pneumonia in California
20th-century American male writers
20th-century American screenwriters